Start of #Odal buffer: Mon Jul 28 19:15:33 2008 [17:18:31] * There are parasites in the water, Rana said. Terrible, alien parasites, forced into our world from the Far Realm. They've infected members of Harborhead's ruling class, and it's not certain if anyone's safe in town anymore. Saying that, the seer falls back into a chair, her oaken rod across her knees. [17:18:38] [Session start] [17:19:41] "Hmm, Flayers are from the far realm." [17:20:38] They're in the water, yes? [17:21:02] We...didn't drink any, did we? [17:22:32] We only just got here. [17:24:07] * Rana nods. "I think they're in the water. This isn't a good climate for research." [17:24:53] Do you have any guesses about how they might have gotten in? [17:26:18] * "A tear in the planar barrier? Either purposeful or pseudonatural. Not that there's any easy way to tell the difference when dealing with lords of the Far Realm. But that's a different matter entirely." [17:28:45] So we must close the rift and deal with whoever is still on this side. [17:30:07] How did you discover this? [17:31:39] * Rana frowns. "I have an affinity for the stars, and things beyond them. It's my vocation." [17:34:21] * Paera nods. "So...what do we do about it? [17:38:04] * "I can't say, to be honest. Closing the rift, if it exists, would be dangerous at best, and possibly worse than fatal. Fortunately, the ug-ts can't function very well without a host, and die off if they can't eat. They might be a temporary problem, if we can find a way to keep the ruling council from perpetuating them." [17:40:54] "Is there any way to remove them from the ruling council without fatal consequence?" [17:43:44] * Rana shrugs. "Can't say I'm too versed in things that live there, outside of the broadest strokes, and what I've been able to learn from larva I captured." [17:49:27] * Paera lets out a frustrated sigh. "So why did you contact us then?" [17:50:54] "The hosts are consumed." [17:51:18] If we have nowhere to start, perhaps we should experiment. [17:51:28] * Xan nods. "Now that you mention the name, I recall some particular facts about their breed. They cannot be saved." [17:52:12] * "Because you're from outside. They don't anything about you, except for that, and I know that you can handle yourselves better than almost anyone in this town, if the readings are right." [17:53:11] * Eilenia nods. "Do you know if the Duke's death is connected to this?" [17:56:38] * Paera scratches her chin. "His body didn't LOOK very consumed. Unless you're not meaning literally." [17:56:41] Well, it's probably not best to move immediately against them. [17:57:13] "Well, anyone with a knowledge of common anatomy such as myself can detect the varied bone structure and off-beat vascular pulsing that indicates a fully devoured host, but I would suggest that you allow me to identify our targets before we strike. [17:58:21] How close would you have to get? [17:58:43] "Just within sight, actually." [17:59:06] You must have good eyes. [17:59:26] "It's just a subtle difference in body movement, but it's notable." [17:59:43] * She shrugs. "If the parasites killed him, it could have just been normal poison. Or some illness." [18:00:01] * Outside, the sun's beginning to set. [18:00:16] "That or he wouldn't relinquish control, so they disposed of him." [18:02:48] We should get some rest. Do you know where we can find uncontaminated water? [18:04:40] * "Not much but seawater in the canals here, and I wouldn't drink it even if you could. Most of the people here buy water the traders bring, or pay a water-witch to take out the salt for them." [18:06:17] "Or we could just boil water. The Ug-t's wouldn't survive it." [18:07:24] * She nods. "Not bad for bathing, but I'd look elsewhere for drinking water, unless any of you knows a ritual to get the salt out." [18:09:47] * "I've got a gallon or two stowed away that I could give you, though. I mean, I won't have much use for fresh water if you get turned." [18:10:22] I could boil the water, if you know for certian it would make the water safe. [18:10:47] "It's be safe for drinking." [18:10:50] * Xan nods. [18:11:15] * She gets up and heads into a back room. There's a clatter of cabinet doors, and she comes back with a heavy clay jug with a stopper fitted into the top. "Here you go. Got someplace to stay for the night?" [18:11:21] We've reserved a room [18:11:40] "But I'm uncertain that the room is safe." [18:15:34] "We do not know how far this has spread. [18:16:25] * Eilenia accepts the water. "Thank you. We'll try to resolve this quickly and effectively." [18:18:15] * Paera just shakes her head. "I can't believe this is happening. This was supposed to be such a simple journey." [18:20:07] "Perhaps we were supposed to take this path, liberate these people." [18:20:59] Either way, we have plenty of time. Moreso if we can establish trade relations and have some food sent home. [18:21:31] "I think that our first order of business after we rest should be publicly exposing this threat." [18:22:14] Would they believe us? [18:23:38] "It'll be nightfall soon. Perhaps if we take out one corrupted council member, we can extract the creature." [18:24:58] * Rana nods. "The parasite might work as proof. That seems like it could work." [18:25:23] WHat does the parasite look like? [18:25:46] We're not exactly, well...the stealthiest. If we get caught doing this, we'll likely make things worse, rather than helping. [18:26:10] "I am able to hide." [18:26:12] * "Outside of a host, it's a bit maggoty. Inside a host, well... Can't say I've ever seen it. Hold on." [18:27:47] * Rana walks to a writing desk and unlocks it, then takes a small jar from an internal drawer. There's a small, yellowish-white tube inside, ringed with teeth on one end, and about half an inch long. [18:28:45] That'll be tricky to find. [18:29:02] Well, hm. Do these things just control the host, or would the host be...more powerful, I guess? [18:29:50] Because if it's the first, I suppose Xan could sneak in, but if we'd need all of us...well, I'm not sure about that plan. [18:30:07] * Paera looks at the jar and cringes. "Eew." [18:30:18] As long as I have a window I can see through... [18:30:29] * Xan examines the creature [18:31:25] * Eilenia takes a step forward and vanishes. And reappears just behind Paera. [18:31:50] I'll be just fine. [18:31:51] "The parasite grows stronger mentally. Its psionic abilities increase in power when it joins with a host." [18:32:57] * Paera groans. "This just gets better and better." [18:33:15] "But it doesn't grow physically stronger." [18:33:30] And you guys might be able to get in, but me and Eve, we're not, well, subtle. [18:33:45] "I would expect, since they have taken the council, for them to soon pollute the town's water supply." [18:34:48] * Eve nods. "Paera is being correct. Stealth was rarely taught in Tsavarogorod." [18:39:36] "Perhaps the two of you can see about getting to the town's water supply and making sure that it is not corrupted." [18:40:06] We might have a better chance with all of us there. [18:40:17] "True." [18:43:37] Doing either would probably tip them off that we're on to them, which could ruin our chances of doing the other. So we might be better off just picking one plan and running with it. [18:46:20] Either way, we give them a chance to make US look like the bad guys here, so we gotta make it count. [18:46:28] * Eilenia nods [18:46:57] "Well, investigating a water supply is significantly less suspicious than assassination, and gives us the potential to save more people, should the water be infested [18:47:08] Defintely. [18:47:33] But why are we investigating the water supply? What do we tell them? [18:48:14] "We don't tell them anything. Chances are it's guarded, and we'll end up leaving a trail of corpses in our wake." [18:48:48] True. And if we get caught and they try to claim WE'VE contaminated the water supply, they have to reveal that it IS contaminated, which works in our favor. [18:48:59] True. [18:49:21] * Eve frowns. "Perhaps it is because I am not being from this province, but I am not seeing why killing few dozen men is less suspicious than killing one man." [18:50:59] I don't want to kill ANYONE. Who isn't already dead. I just think that breaking into, well, someone's house is going to get us caught faster. [18:51:23] Wher eis the water supply,anyway? WHat's the area around it like? [18:52:01] "the water supply of a township isn't normally put under constant watch." [18:52:42] "Anyone not privy to the information we are would either find it odd to be guarding a water supply, or not guarding it at all. Thus, we could feasably convince anyone not corrupted that our intentions are honorable." [18:53:57] * "There's two, really." Rana looks up. "There's the sluices to control the flow of seawater into the canals, and all the water that flows into the city comes through them. Then the outlying farms have irrigation from a river coming down from the Red Mountains. But I don't think that the hosts would be interested in turning the farmers." [18:54:56] Perhaps we've seen signs of a Feymire Crocodile. [18:55:02] They're very dangerous, you know. [18:55:44] * Xan (rustangel@ip-214-151.atvci.net) Quit (Ping timeout: 180 seconds) [18:55:50] * MZ (rustangel@ip-214-151.atvci.net) has joined #Odal [18:56:32] * MZ is now known as Xan [18:58:07] "So, unless we've got some sorrupt farmers, then these folk had to have drank seawater in order to take in these parasites." [18:59:18] "Which I find odd." [18:59:36] Perhaps some famrers have already been turned, with the intention of taking the infection up here. [18:59:47] * Rana nods. "That's how mine was given to me. And how I found out. Lord Osrek provided me with mine in a jar of salt water." [19:01:58] "Which, unless the council forces it upon folk or has a mass quantity of these sea witches in its employ, leaves the general populace relatively safe even if the water is contaminated, since seawater isn't drinkable. [19:02:09] * Eilenia nods. [19:05:01] "Which I am certain they will likely try something of the sort." [19:06:29] When should we go to the water? [19:06:34] We have time to rest this evening. [19:06:40] Will we use it to rest? [19:07:47] "I am not tired." [19:09:00] * Paera nods. "I don't see why we shouldn't just get started." [19:09:31] Same here. [19:10:23] * Eve nods. "Is better to be in action, I think." [19:12:26] * Rana shakes her head. "They know me. I'd like to help, but I'm not sure I should be showing my face until the entire spread is out." [19:13:06] "Your influence is more vital than your swordarm, in this circumstance." [19:14:18] * Rana nods. [19:14:43] * With your plan in mind, you set out the door, trying to make it to the sluices before night settles completely. [19:14:47] [Session end] [19:14:51] * Xan (rustangel@ip-214-151.atvci.net) has left #Odal [19:15:16] * Paera is now known as Yon End of #Odal buffer Mon Jul 28 19:15:33 2008